THREE of Southport’s title winning squad have sealed moves to Droylsden whilst another attracts interest from a Football League club.

As revealed in the Visiter last week, striker Ciaran Kilheeney and midfielders Robbie Booth and Bradley Barnes were on the verge of transferring to the Manchester outfit as part of the deal to bring Tony Gray back to the Sandgrounders.

After negotiations with Droylsden boss Dave Pace this week, the trio have officially swapped Haig Avenue for the Butcher’s Arms Ground with forward Chris Simm edging closer to the Port exit door.

The 26-year-old striker turned down the chance to join Droylsden in favour of searching for full-time football and has moved onto the radar of an unnamed League Two side.

Simm started in the Yellows’ first pre-season game of the summer last weekend, when Liam Watson’s men went down 1-0 at home to Eastwood Town.

Ten outfield trialists were used on Saturday with Watson only taking a second look at a handful of the hopefuls ahead of this weekend’s match with Blackburn Rovers at Haig Avenue, kick-off 3pm.

"Ciaran, Bradley and Boothy have all now signed for Droylsden and Simm has attracted some interest from a League club.

"A lot of the trialists have now moved on though I thought Jonathon Crane looked pretty good on the ball and in many ways reminded me of Carl Baker in the way he looked after it so well.

"Crane was in and around the first team at Wigan Athletic for a while and has just returned from the Glen Hoddle soccer school out in Spain. So we’ll have another look at him as well as Simon Richman who looked good in possession and has shown good levels of fitness, but didn’t really stand out in the match.

"Paul Henry, who came recommended to me from Gary Brabin (ex-Southport boss and now Luton Town assistant manager) certainly put himself about. I’ll keep those three around the place."

Watson also had praise for livewire trialist Alan Collins who played for the club’s reserves last season as well youth team product Jake Ellis who cost Manchester United are reputed fee of £75,000 as a 14-year-old with the boss hinting he may be sent out on loan.

The visit of Premier League Blackburn tomorrow will see Watson give first summer outings to the majority of his senior squad as well as a the welcome return to Haig Avenue of goalkeeping legend Steve Dickinson.

First choice stopper Tony McMillan picked up a minor knee injury in the Eastwood defeat so Dickinson, who comes back to Southport to act as coach and goalkeeping cover, will deputise.

Former Port youth prodigy Zak Aley is likely to face the club for the first time since his move to Ewood Park, on Saturday.